Michelle Harte

‘I had no real interest in politics, until this’ – Ireland’s accidental abortion activists
On 25 May, voters in Ireland will decide whether to legalise abortion. Doctors, grandparents and those who have been forced to travel the UK to seek terminations have been raising their voices in a bid to shift the narrative

Joyce Fegan
Tue 22 May 2018

In September 1983, article 40.3.3 – the eighth amendment – was voted into the Irish constitution. It equated the life of the “unborn” with that of the mother. It gave rise to a ban on abortion in all circumstances from the moment of conception.

It also led to a grave national silence, whereby abortion was outsourced to neighbouring jurisdictions, with Britain becoming a place of medical refuge for at least 168,703 Irish women.

Mother might still be alive but for Eighth Amendment – gynaecologist
Michelle Harte missed many weeks of cancer treatment due to Eighth – Prof Louise Kenny

May 13, 2018
Barry Roche

A gynaecologist has said a mother she had treated might still be alive if she had been able to obtain an abortion in Ireland.

Mother-of-one Michelle Harte might still be alive were it not for the Eighth Amendment having prevented her from obtaining a termination here when she was taking a new cancer therapy and was in remission, Prof Louise Kenny said.

Ireland is to hold a landmark referendum that could finally see its abortion laws clarified and relaxed.

The referendum will ask Irish citizens if the wish to repeal the 8th amendment to the Irish Constitution. Given how much suffering has been caused by the restrictive law, it’s ethically right to vote to repeal the 8th amendment, even if you’re morally opposed to abortion.

While abortion was already illegal, the 8th amendment created constitutional protection for a foetal right to life: